The world’s most popular sedan with over 44 million units sold worldwide, the Toyota Corolla, is now available in an exclusive variant in the UAE, loaded with new refined and sophisticated features.

Available in limited quantities, the 2019 Corolla XLi Exclusive marks the newest and most premium addition to the Corolla line-up. It comes with a refined, advanced, and sophisticated styling which sets it apart in its segment. Building on the nameplate’s heritage carrying on the legacy as a symbol of quality, durability and reliability in the medium size sedan segment.

The vehicle is designed to deliver a thrilling driving experience powered by a proven 1.6-litre in-line four-cylinder engine producing 121 horsepower and 15.7 kg-m of torque. Complementing the enhanced performance is the Multidrive 7S transmission that delivers unprecedented best-in-class fuel economy of 18.1 Km / L. The new Corolla is both fun and efficient!

Safety is a top priority for Toyota and being a family sedan first and foremost, the 2019 Corolla Xli Exclusive is loaded with a host of safety features including an advanced vehicle stability system, a tire pressure warning system, rear fog lamps, ISO-FIX and two airbags.

Inside, the cabin is more premium than ever, bringing a new level of chic craftsmanship with a warm comfortable interior that further enhances both the driver and the passager’s experience. The new Corolla Xli Exclusive is available in eight exterior paint choices, with body coloured door handles and mirrors that complement the new styling.

“Ever since its introduction in 1966, the Toyota Corolla nameplate has become synonymous with reliability, value for money and bullet-proof build quality and the latest iteration is set to drive that legend forward. The 2019 Corolla lives up to its decades-old heritage and promises unrivalled practicality and value for money,” said Saud Abbasi, Managing Director of Al-Futtaim Toyota.

The Toyota Corolla 2019 XLi is now available for purchase at Al-Futtaim Toyota showrooms across the UAE, for AED 75,500 inclusive of VAT. It can be booked for a test drive through www.toyota.ae.

Volvo Cars has added a new title to its XC40’s string of awards being named the Supreme Winner of 2018 Women’s World Car of the Year to that list – the only car awards in the world voted entirely by women motoring writers. 34 jurors from 27 countries selected Volvo’s first compact SUV as the best new car of the year for women. In two anonymous rounds of votes, the XC40 prevailed against five competing models.

The world’s only automobile award dedicated for women reflects the growing importance of women as an independent customer group as well as their purchasing power. Automakers are considering criteria important to women when buying a car, shown in the WWCOTY decision making process. The award is measured by safety, price-performance, appearance, storage space, child-friendliness, comfort and environmental footprint, as well as color options and desirability.

“Holding the title of “Family Car of the Year 2018”, it comes as no surprise that the XC40 took first place in the 2018 Women’s World Car of the Year. Winning this award highlights Volvo Cars’ dedication to providing a first-class product to women and their families,” said Hakan Samuelsson, president and CEO of Volvo Cars. “This award also endorses the XC40 as a game changer in the industry boosting the right combination of design, comfort and safety that appeals to both men and women around the world.”

“With women driving the transformation of the automotive market in the region, addressing the aspirations of the new female customer segment is an indispensable part of our vision.” Samuelsson added.

Safety and driver assistance features on the XC40 include Volvo Cars’ Pilot Assist system, City Safety, Run-off Road protection and mitigation, Cross Traffic alert with brake support and the 360° Camera that helps drivers maneuvertheir car into tight parking spaces.

The XC40 also offers ingenious interior design and storage ideas with more functional storage space in the doors and under the seats, a special space for phones including inductive charging, a foldout hook for small bags, plus a removable waste bin in the tunnel console.

In 2017, the company announced its commitment to electrify all Volvo Cars launched from 2019. In line with this leadership position in electrification, a hybridised as well as a pure electric powertrain option for the XC40 will be added later.

Recently we ventured into Jordan to drive the all-new Duster, the unstoppable SUV with Renault Middle East. While offering a range of high-quality, new features, the reinvented SUV will still retain the same level of affordability that the name ‘Duster’ is celebrated for.

The all-new Renault Duster boasts brand-new exterior styling, delivering a distinctly assertive and robust look, as well as an upgrade in perceived quality with a totally redesigned interior for a comfortable and user-friendly driving experience.

Since its global launch in 2010, more than 2.45 million Duster models have been sold across the world under the Renault and Dacia brands. The SUV for everyday motoring has been popular with drivers across the globe, with exceptional sales results recorded in Russia, India, Brazil and the Middle East.

The Duster’s roominess, affordability and off-road capabilities have long been recognised as the model’s strengths and the all-new models continues to carry these desirable attributes.

The SUV’s exterior has been given a more robust look thanks to the addition of a wide chrome-finish grille, which extends to the head lights positioned at the car’s front corners. A front skid plate reinforces the Duster’s adventurer credentials and ensures that the vehicle never loses its smart looks. Finished with Renault’s signature C-shaped lighting with LED daytime running lights the Duster is a modern SUV with a rugged personality.

Inside, the Duster is equipped with new, high-quality, driving aids and new equipment, making it a genuine adventure-ready SUV which offers the versatility and comfort for everyday driving. On stepping inside the cabin, the noticeable difference in quality is instantly recognisable – packed with ‘Easy Life’ features like Hill Descent Control, Multiview camera and Blind Spot Warning, 4×4 monitor, automatic air conditioning, Remote Engine Start (GCC only), seven-inch touchscreen tablet and Renault smart card with keyless entry system – as well as quality trims and materials.

The all-new Duster is available in both 2WD and 4WD specifications and offers among the market’s very best off-road capability. With a choice of two petrol engines; 1.6L (4×2) mated to a CVT automatic transmission, and 2.0L with automatic transmission (4×4), the Duster is an SUV equipped for any terrain.

Commenting on the launch of the all-new Duster, Marwan Haidamous, Renault Middle East Managing Director said, “Before the arrival to the region of the original Duster in 2012, there was little awareness of the Renault brand in the Middle East; the original Duster was responsible for boosting the brand’s awareness. Now, six years on, we are welcoming the all-new Duster which will, again, reinvent and reinvigorate the brand to new levels of performance and positive opinion – pushing us further towards our goal of being ‘best in class’.”

As a full-size luxury SUV, the Lincoln Navigator (Presidential) comes with indulgent luxury touch points at every turn, evident from the moment I opened the door for my one week drive experience.

Capable of producing 450 horsepower and 691 Nm of torque, the Lincoln Presidential made me feel like I owned the road. The twin-turbo 3.5-litre engine provides power delivered through a 10-speed transmission. Twin-turbocharged engine technology provided the fuel economy on demand, with the power and performance I needed and desired for different drive modes.

Inside, the three rows seats offer ample space and the front of the interior layout is clean and uncluttered, with a simple, soothing ambience. The all-new Navigator comes with six USB ports, four 12-volt power outlets, a 230-volt plug and a wireless phone charger in the first-row centre console. Individual driver preferences can be set for adapting seat, mirror and pedal positions, as well as climate control and entertainment settings.

A standard rear-seat entertainment system allows passengers to stream content wirelessly with their device to one of the 10-inch adjustable screens mounted on the rear of the front seats. Content also can be accessed from SD cards, an HDMI cable or USB drive.

Each screen can display different content, allowing a personalised entertainment experience for every passenger enjoyed using Revel® Ultima audio with 20 speakers that work in concert with Navigator’s interior design and acoustics.

The 360-degree camera and Enhanced Park Assist is a saviour for divers who stress about parallel and perpendicular parking. The system integrates views from four cameras to create an overhead image so the driver can see all around the vehicle.

The exterior of the Lincoln Navigator Presidential has an enhanced design language that is both bold and flashy and fits into the full-size luxury SUV segment. It is an athletic yet refined silhouette that makes it appealing to both men and women who need to make a style statement.

Driving the Lincoln Presidential for a week was an absolute delight – it offered me a uniquely elevated automotive experience that my love for combined luxury, sport and regal design in one space. It is the answer to luxury travel on wheels, perfect for road trips and equally at home in front of a luxury hotel entrance.

Since its debut in 1982 and subsequent evolution over eight generations, Toyota Camry has come to be embraced by people around the world for its excellent performance, ride quality, and high level of Quality, Durability, and Reliability (QDR).

The new electrified version of the Camry cements Toyota’s continued efforts to create ever-better cars and further reiterates its commitment to environmental sustainability. The all-new Camry HEV provides a comfortable and stable ride with superior handling characteristics while injecting a fun driving experience.

Thecar can be driven entirelybyeither electricalpower with zero-fuel consumption and carbon emissions,or with a combination of a petrol engine and two electric motors depending on the vehicle speed and customer’s driving behavior.The batteries in the hybrid electricdrivetrain are automatically chargedby either the petrol engine or when braking and decelerating,eliminatingthe need to plug in a power cord.

Suzan Kazzi, Head of Corporate Communications at Al-Futtaim Toyota mentioned at the launch event that Camry HEV has been leading the sustainable mobility march since 2008, being the first marque that pioneered the HEV technology in the UAE. The company has launched several hybrid electric vehiclesin the past two decades, leading to a steady rise in the adoption of its environment-friendly cars.

The interior features a distinctive design and offers convenience and comfort with a layer of luxury and a range of advanced features. This includes a wireless charging system for smartphones, dual-zone automatic air conditioning system, six-speaker sound system, multi-adjustable power front seats, and 60/40 split and reclining rear seats, among many others.

The all-new Camry HEV model also introduces thelatest in-vehicle information technology displays, offering a unique level of integrated information with minimal distraction. It relays information through 2 available interlinked displays; a seven-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster, and an eight-inch audio/navigationcontrol panel that is seamlessly integrated into the center console in a modern, flush-surface design.

Acomprehensive array of safety features has been added to protect vehicle occupants, including six SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA),Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), as well as an enhanced body structure and platform structure, among many others.

Available in eight distinctive exterior and three interior colors, and 18-inch alloy wheels, the all-new Camry HEV lets customers express their individuality.The car is available across all Al-Futtaim Toyota showrooms.

At the recent Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the coveted gold ribbon that designates the “Best of Show” car was placed on the magnificent deep blue bodywork of a 1937 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900B Touring Berlinetta.

The Italian masterpiece fought off competition from 209 cars from 17 countries, all of which were displayed on the eighteenth fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links in California. Before being proclaimed “Best of Show” the car triumphed in its class and also received two other major awards – the “Charles A. Chayne” trophy and the “J.B. & Dorothy Nethercutt Most Elegant Closed Car” prize.

The car, first seen at the 1938 Berlin Motor Show, differs from later 8C 2900B Touring models with its more steeply raked grille and lack of running boards, and recently received a full restoration to return it to its original specification.

This is the third time in the history of Pebble Beach that the Alfa Romeo brand has taken home the Best of Show award, and every time it has been with the 8C 2900B model with Touring bodywork – first in 1988 with a spider version and then in 2008 with a coupé.

Summer 1958: a light breeze blows around the coast of Capri, caressing the hulls of the luxurious yachts moored in the harbour. On the quayside, the exclusive 500 Jolly, better known as the “Spiaggina”, awaits its illustrious guests for a journey into the glittering night life of La Dolce Vita.

Summer 2018: coinciding with the Fiat 500’s birthday, the iconic Spiaggina makes an elegant return to Europe’s most famous resorts. Its new lease of life comes courtesy of the Fiat brand, which presents the new 500 Spiaggina ‘58 special edition, produced in a limited edition of 1,958 cars – a tribute to the year of the birth of the first Spiaggina, with ultra-chic design touches and a lavish standard outfit.

Available in the Middle East from 2019, this is the first of Fiat’s two tributes to celebrate both the legendary little car’s birthday and the 60th anniversary of its first special series – the unforgettable 500 Spiaggina – dating from 1958, which became a universally acclaimed symbol of La Dolce Vita. By marking these two important dates, Fiat also celebrates the secret of the 500’s eternal youth: its capability to renew itself continually, through special editions, without ever losing its identity. And the Fiat brand has produced a second gift to celebrate these special milestones – a delightful video set to the famous song ‘Volare’, the ever-popular Italian classic which also appeared in 1958, and starring, of course, the new 500 Spiaggina ‘58.

“The new Spiaggina ’58 is our birthday gift to the 500 for its birthday and the 60th anniversary of the Spiaggina,” explained Luca Napolitano, Head of the Fiat and Abarth brands, EMEA. “It’s a real time machine, incorporating many reminders of the Dolce Vita era, such as the vintage logos and wheels, the white waist rail, the convertible only format and two-tone interior. Not to mention a special colour exclusively for this edition, Volare Blue. A name and a colour that take us straight back to 1958, to the Sanremo Festival of that year, when a young Domenico Modugno teamed up with Johnny Dorelli to give the first public performance of ‘Nel blu dipinto di blu’, the famous song also known as ‘Volare’, which was the soundtrack for the Dolce Vita years.”

Two other Italian centres of excellence – creative hub Garage Italia and design firm Pininfarina – have also celebrated the dual anniversary by producing the irresistible ‘Spiaggina by Garage Italia’ showcar. Based on a Fiat 500C, its features include unique, sophisticated styling cues that reinterpret those unforgettable years for today’s world.

“Love at first sight, the kind that strikes deep into your heart and soul. This what I feel whenever I look at or drive a 500,” said Lapo Elkann, Chairman and Creative Director of Garage Italia. “I fell in love with the car when I was a boy, and as I grew up I was determined to bring it back to life. I am so happy about the model’s relaunch, and hope it will convey the dreams and the magical years of the post-war economic boom and the Italian way of enjoying life. Since 2007, year after year, I’ve always personalised 500’s for myself, and the opening of Garage Italia has enabled us to design a multitude of one-off versions, all reconfirming the versatility and immense contemporary appeal of this vehicle, which is still one of the world’s best-loved brands.”

“11 years have passed since the model was reborn on 4 July 2007 and today, through Garage Italia, I’ve decided to celebrate and renew a splendid Italian icon by working with my Design Centre to create the Spiaggina by Garage Italia, styled by my team with invaluable technical and engineering input from Pininfarina and with the support of the Fiat brand. I’m proud of what we have achieved. And I’m proud that all this has been done in Italy, with Italian firms which promote our beloved country all around the world. I’m sure that this car will make people imagine, dream and interpret the Italian way of enjoying life that has been inspiring the world for generations.

Fiat’s first tribute for the dual anniversary is the new Fiat 500 Spiaggina ‘58 special edition, produced in a limited edition of 1,958 cars and only available as a convertible, for full enjoyment of the open air and the appeal of a historic era indelibly imprinted on all our memories. And as befits a star of La Dolce Vita, the new special edition sports a splendid Volare Blue livery, with beige soft-top, shown off by the white waist rail and vintage-design 16″ alloy wheels. The exclusive colour scheme is enhanced by other distinctive features, such as the side moulding with 500 logo, chromed door mirror caps, vintage logos and chrome Spiaggina ’58 logo, in elegant italic script, on the rear – the signature of the latest Fiat creation.

The interior has the same class and elegance, with original and authentic design touches. Starting from the dashboard, in the same Volare Blue colour as the exterior, to the refined two-tone look of the seats, with grey striped base and ivory upper section. The chic interior is completed by special mats and a steering wheel with vintage logo. The new Spiaggina ’58 special edition offers the very best in connectivity technology and is equipped (as standard) with a Uconnect™ 7″ HD touchscreen radio which is Apple CarPlay ready and compatible with Android Auto, as well as navigator with Tom Tom maps. Also standard are the largest-in-class 7” TFT display, automatic A/C, rear parking sensors, height-adjustable seats and seat-back pockets. Finally, the 500 Spiaggina ‘58 comes with a 1.4-litre, 99hp petrol engine with the latest Euro6B rating.

The 500 Spiaggina ‘58 special series is another addition to the Fiat 500 collection, which has included an impressive number of special editions, issued in succession over the last 11 years.

Fittingly so, since Fiat 500 has always been a trendsetter which, while remaining true to itself, has been re-interpreted over time, linking its name to iconic brands from the worlds of fashion, luxury yachts, arts and sport in truly unique editions that have explored unusual territories for a city car.

Outstanding examples include the stylish Diesel, Gucci, the amazing Riva and Abarth Rivale that evoke luxury yachts the 560 series celebrating the model’s great forebearer, and finally the 500 Mirror, with top-end connectivity for the millennial lifestyle. And today it is the turn of the splendid 500 Spiaggina ‘58 to continue the story of the Fiat icon.

Launched in 1957 and established over the years as the icon of mass car ownership in Italy, the Fiat 500 was reborn in 2007 with the debut of the new model, which rapidly become a global phenomenon. Its success is demonstrated by the fact that over 2 million cars were sold in more than 100 countries worldwide, with over 80% of sales volumes achieved on the export market. A success that has made the 500 (including the Abarth 500)number 1 in Europe in its segment since 2013.

This status was reconfirmed during the first five months of 2018, with leadership in 10 markets (UK, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Austria, Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Croatia) and a top-3 placing in 6 other countries (Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Slovakia and Romania). The model’s growth shows no sign of abating, as, reaching its eleventh year in the first five months of 2018, it once again broke its own records, with more than 93,000 cars sold in Europe, making them its best ever five sales months ever.

Heir to a symbol of La Dolce Vita

Just a year after its launch on 4 July 1957, the Fiat 500 became a real cult object with the debut of its first special series: the 500 Jolly, better known as Spiaggina, or beach buggy. Built by Carrozzeria Ghia and based on the Fiat 500, and later also on the Giardiniera version, this exclusive car was produced from 1958 to 1965 and sold in Europe, the United States and South Africa.

Costing twice the price of the normal version, this special seaside version was a favourite of the most influential personalities of the age – including shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis and actor Yul Brynner – who chose it as their preferred transport to their yachts or as a golf car on their country estates. A 500 Jolly can also be admired in the personal car collection of US President Lyndon B. Johnson.

One of its distinctive features was the absence of doors – slender chains were not introduced until around 1965 – although the most innovative aspect of its design was inclusion of chromed rails in the sides and along the top of the bodywork, supporting the sunshade-canopy. Equipped with a 22hp air-cooled two-cylinder engine, the 500 Jolly had a top speed of 105 km/h.

Spiaggina by Garage Italia

Fun and carefree are the feelings conveyed at first glance by the Spiaggina by Garage Italia showcar. This has been achieved thanks to its typical summer colours, Volare Blue and Perla White, which distinguish the two-tone livery of the body with Garage blue finishes and matching interior upholstery. The roof, just like the traditional Spiaggina, has been removed and the rear passenger space has been transformed into a spacious compartment so that you can take all your beach essentials with you. This modification was possible thanks to the support of Pininfarina technicians, who assisted Garage Italia staff in the design of structural reinforcement work, such as the rear roll-bar, to ensure the chassis was rigid enough.

These details make the latest creation by Lapo Elkann’s creative hub truly one of a kind. The showcar has a lowered nautical windscreen and the load platform is covered with slatted cork with a pattern recalling the design of teak floor boards on luxury yachts.

The two front seats have been replaced by a tailor-made bench to reflect the typical design of 1960’s cars, embellished by the blue and white Foglizzo Leather upholstery, with a special waterproof treatment. Last but not least, the chrome trim on handles, door mirrors and hubcaps on the new Fiat 500 Vintage 1957 alloy wheel rims all contribute to making the Spiaggina by Garage Italia sparkle under the sun.

Recently, McLaren Automotive revived the legendary ‘Longtail’ name with the launch of the 675LT Coupé, minimising weight and optimising aerodynamics in parallel with increasing power, track focussed dynamics and driver engagement.

True to the spirit of its ‘Longtail’ predecessor and the traits inherent to a car wearing the LT badge, the 675LT Coupé earlier was acknowledged as the purest, most involving series-production McLaren supercar at launch.

Now as only the fourth ‘Longtail’ McLaren in more than two decades, the McLaren 600LT marks the beginning of the next chapter in the McLaren ‘Longtail’ (LT) story and at the same time sets a new sportscar benchmark as the fastest, most powerful and most track-focused, yet road legal Sports Series McLaren has created.

The McLaren 600LT is built to excel on roads and race circuits alike with an extended front splitter, lengthened rear diffuser and fixed rear wing. Built using the lightweight carbon fibre monocoque chassis for which McLaren is renowned, the 600LT further benefits from new carbon fibre bodywork that lowers vehicle weight as well as optimising aerodynamic performance.

Unique top-exit exhausts ensure that the new LT model has a distinct aesthetic appearance that identifies it as something particularly special, as well as delivering a substantial weight saving and anincredible aural experience.

To deliver the extreme performance appropriate for an LT, the McLaren 600LT is powered by a twin-turbocharged, 3.8-litre V8 engine that benefits from an uprated cooling system and reduced back pressure in an exhaust system that is even shorter and more extreme than that of the McLaren Senna. Peak power is 600PS (592bhp), with maximum torque of 620Nm (457lb ft) and thepower-to-weight ratio of the McLaren 600LT at lightest dry weight is an astonishing 481PS/tonne.

The new model features the forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension and lightweight braking system from the second-generation McLaren Super Series; bespoke, track-focused Pirelli Trofeo R tyres; quicker steering; sharpened responses from the throttle and brake pedals; significantly firmer engine mounts and exhausts that are mounted virtually behind the driver’s shoulder to bring the incredible sound of the powertrain into the cabin.

The driver is encouraged by the deep-rooted and incredibly pure connection with the car to fully exploit the optimised aerodynamics, reduced weight, increased power and track-focused dynamics. This higher level of excellence and engagement is the ethos at the heart of the McLaren 600LT, just as it was with the McLaren 675LT models and the McLaren F1 GTR ‘Longtail’ before them.

Volume of the new McLaren LT will also be strictly limited. Production of the 600LT Coupé will begin in October 2018 and last for around 12 months, with build slots scheduled around existing Sports and Super Series models, as well as the sell-out Senna, Senna GTR and BP23. The specialist carbon fibre body panels of the 600LT will also ensure that it is significantly rarer than its Sports Series brethren.

Like its 675LT predecessors, each 600LT will be hand-assembled at the McLaren Production Centre in Woking, Surrey. Available to order now from McLaren retailers, the McLaren 600LT Coupé is subject to availability.

After travelling to different parts of the world (Africa, Europe, Middle East and the Americas) the last few years to look at classic and historical cars, the highlight of my journey has to be my recent visit to the Museo Storico Alfa Romeo which is the dedicated Alfa Romeo’s official museum, located in Arese displaying a permanent collection of Alfa Romeo cars and engines.

More than just a museum, the eclectic building has a bookshop, a store, a café, events centre and is an immersive experience centre designed to impress visitors after going through a major restoration and opening again in 2015. Located a few kilometers away from Milan, the museum is the perfect link between past, present and future in a modern and an elegant venue.

The museum journey highlights the Gran Turismo in the past, the present and the future showcasing projects that came into being, images of the team who led the company, who designed the cars and created history with their inventions.

The Alfa Romeo DNA is evident throughout Alfa Romeo’s historic collection of memorabilia and models. From the very first A.L.F.A. car, the 24 HP, to the legendary Mille Miglia winners such as the 6C 1750 Gran Sport driven by Tazio Nuvolari.

Each of the three floors represented the essence of the brand condensed into three principles: Timeline, which represents industrial continuity of the brand, Bellezza(beauty), which combines style with design and Velocità (speed) which sums up technology and light weight.

The Timeline section features a selection of 19 cars representing the evolvement of the brand, complete with a multimedia information panel and a smart-tech station where visitors can access an interactive system for more details about the history of each model.

For instance, the “Quelli dell’Alfa Romeo” installation recounts how a legend was formed in over 100 years thanks to the work of thousands of people who contributing to the company’s growth: from the workers to the mechanics, testers and designers, engineers and white collar workers.

The ground floor section layout called Bellezza features several themed areas and is designed with dynamic and smooth lines that recall the style of the major Italian coachbuilders. It reveals 9 major design examples from each era, displaying cars built by the Touring bodyshop under the Superleggera brand in the 1930s and 40s.

This floor has the Alfa Romeo nel cinema” (Alfa Romeo in the movies). This is followed by “Il Fenomeno Giulietta” (The Giulietta Phenomenon) and “Giulia: disegnata dal vento” (Giulia: designed by the wind), with models that accompany the growth of the economy and of Italian taste in the 1950s and 60s.

Another section dedicated to Speed features the stars of Alfa Romeo’s major victories in a spectacular multi-media space which groups together the stars of the epic competitions, highlights racing in Alfa Romeo’s DNA and a dedicated space with pictures, sounds and film footage of the 10 biggest triumphs in the history of Alfa Romeo.

Visitors can experience the Alfa Romeo world with 360° virtual reality film footage, enjoy a full-immersion room sitting in interactive armchairs and watching 4D films dedicated to the legendary successes of Alfa Romeo.

We ended our journey with some retail therapy at the museum’s store that is well stocked with Alfa Romeo memorabilia and left the building feeling inspired and in awe of the brands history and success in the past and the forward thinking mentality to take the brand into an equally impressive future.

Our region is full of young business start-ups, budding entrepreneurs and many successful global companies. Therefore, with the aim of combining innovative ideas, business insight and exciting discussions with like-minded entrepreneurs, Volkswagen Middle East partnered with the region’s largest experiential tech festival STEP X to provide a platform called ‘Meet the Mentors’ where young successful entrepreneurs exchanged advice, knowledge and business relationships.

This initiative comes in consideration of Volkswagen Middle East’s overarching strategy towards moving people forward. As a result, Volkswagen set up Mentor programmes between eight young entrepreneurs and eight experienced mentors, from Magnitt, Careem, Noon, Lamsa, Derq, Insydo, Mompreneurs, and Glowork to create the ‘Meet the Mentors’ series. The gathering gave the Mentees the opportunity to ask business focused questions and gain advice from the successful Mentors which they can take back to their own business development and communities.

These speed-coaching sessions took place in the new Volkswagen Arteon, to create a relaxing, but engaging environment for generating discussion, and as a result of the content, CNN will be showing these films across their website.

Andrew Savvas, Brand Director Volkswagen Middle Eastsaid: “At Volkswagen we are constantly seeking to attract like-minded people who aspire to stand out from the crowd, create their own path to success and work with innovative industry partners to move forward and shape our future. This campaign not only connects two people with the same mind-set together, to enable them to learn and share, but also opens the door to many others who may need similar advice to improve their businesses and personal development across the industry.”

The Meet the Mentors series focuses on eight different business themes which a lot of young entrepreneurs are facing in today’s business market: ‘The Power of Collaboration’, ‘Working with Data’, ‘How to Build Good Partner Relations’, ‘How to Build Your Brand’, ‘How to Connect’, ‘How to Sell Yourself’, ‘How to Seize Opportunities’, ‘How to Stand Out’.